TOPIC:

A picture by Melton Prior in Ladysmith. ILN, 31 Mar 1900.

There is one Indian behind the pistol but I'm not sure about there two on the left, between the horses?

A number of years ago I tried to work it all out - can not find my notes on it all at the moment. The members of Lord Robert's Orderly Officers are listed under Headquarters Staff ( WO 100/296 p9-10) and also in the main body of the roll under their own regiments. All had the same clasps as Lord Roberts. For some reason I think he had seven but I can not remember at the moment why that sticks in my mind. They are:-

2366 Daffadar Yusaff Ali Khan Paard;Drei;JHB;DH;Belf;CC (3rd Bombay)
572 R.C.Havildar Yasen Beg Paard;Drei; JHB; DH; CC (Madras Lancers)
1126 Daffadar Desa Singh Paard;Drie;JHB;DH;CC (6th Bengals)
1936 Daffadar Mirbad Shah Paard;Drie;JHB;DH;CC (9th Bengals)
1527 Daffadar Wadhama Singh Paard;Drie;JHB;DH;CC(9th Bengals)
Daffadar Saleh Singh Paard;Drie;JHB;DH;CC (14th Bengals)

Yusaff Ali Khan's medal has been for sale several times since it was retrieved by Mark Sellars from a bazaar in Gujranwalla, Pakistan. Then it was in the Upfil-Brown Collection and then more recently sold by DNW for a second time. Two grand seems to have been the figure. Named to HQ Staff.

Interestingly if you look for pictures of Lord Roberts in the field, there is nearly on Indian in attendance. No Princes came to South Africa that I am aware of although I know (?) there was an application to be in South Africa but was turned down. I will try and look up the details. I think when you compare the Indian Troops with the other members of the British Forces they all looked like Princes.
Anyway as part of my attempts here are some pics that I did keep. Obviously my avatar " The power behind the throne" is one.







I seem to remember having several others but it will take time to resemble - off on me hols so it will have to wait.

I am sorry this all seems so vague but it was a long time ago that I looked into it all. Perhaps it is time to resurrect it but at the time it seemed so abstract.

And this

Sorry I need to modify the files

David,

Very interesting thoughts. Perhaps it is best you depart for your holidays soon

David

It must have been very frustrating for professional Indian soldiers to go off to a war in a foreign land and then find that their evident talent and experience was not to be used.

Regards
Brett

Yet there was a time of suspense, a time when every man had become of such importance that even fifty Indian syces were for the first and last time in the war, to their own supreme gratification, permitted for twenty-four hours to play their natural part as soldiers. [Footnote: There was something piteous in the chagrin of these fine Sikhs at being held back from their natural work as soldiers. A deputation of them waited upon Lord Roberts at Bloemfontein to ask, with many salaams, whether 'his children were not to see one little fight before they returned.'] Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.